Has the payload left SSL in Palo Alto and been delivered to SpaceX operations at Cape Canaveral for pre-launch processing? (I know our NSF contributors are usually very quick to report such things, if they are free to do so.)

It takes a finite amount of time to process the payloads for launch. What is the average processing time for a geo-comm payload, from delivery to stacking on the launch vehicle?

If that process has not yet started, then perhaps the launch must be delayed into early 2018?

(The focus here on NSF is on the LV, particularly so for Falcon 9--1st stage watches, etc.)

In a June FCC filing Hispasat said "launch and place in operation scheduled for May 2018". There is typically some gap between launch and placing in operation, so that's a bit vague. Then in an August press release for another mission the manufacturer said it would be launching later this year. As noted in the Zuma static fire article, it doesn't seem to actually be on the manifest for 2017. I'm going with first half of 2018 for now, and will refine the estimated date if we get any more news on the mission.

Any idea what happened to push this mission to 2018? I saw Chris's article, just seemed rather sudden that it dropped from the manifest entirely without any announcement/update from Hispasat.

The reason it was hanging around the 2017 manifest its that there hasn't been an update and their looked to be a launch slot out of LC-40 at the end of December. Every other mission that would have taken this spot had a new date in 2018. Zuma has now taken this spot which has slipped a week or so due to the delays in getting LC-40 ready for CRS-13.

The question is where this launch is in the manifest order. It seems clear it is at least after Govsat-1/SES-16, which would make this NET February. It could easily be NET April after SES-12, Bangbandhu, CRS-14, and TESS.

The reason it was hanging around the 2017 manifest its that there hasn't been an update and their looked to be a launch slot out of LC-40 at the end of December.

That's not really true. A lot of people seemed to think this payload was near the front of the line. It's not like Es'hail-2 where there has been no info at all. It will be interesting to see when this payload actually flies.

HAWTHORNE, Calif. Ė January 9, 2018. Media accreditation is now open for SpaceX's Hispasat 30W-6 mission from Space Launch Complex 40 (SLC-40) at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida. The launch is targeted for no earlier than mid-February 2018.

No landing legs in that video. Boosters aren't transported with legs attached.

Leg mounts was reported, sorry for confusion

Gotcha. No worries For reference, from the same day, here is a photo from the bus. I may just be oblivious or not know what I'm looking for, but I don't see any obvious leg attachment points. Please correct me if I'm wrong

No landing legs in that video. Boosters aren't transported with legs attached.

Leg mounts was reported, sorry for confusion

Gotcha. No worries For reference, from the same day, here is a photo from the bus. I may just be oblivious or not know what I'm looking for, but I don't see any obvious leg attachment points. Please correct me if I'm wrong

The fleetís new satellite has been transferred from the installations of Space System Loral (SSL) in Palo Alto (California), where it was manufactured, to the space centre on-board a truck in a container adapted to transport heavy components and whose characteristics guarantee the safety of the satellite.